Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A patronymic surname.
  • proper noun A male given name transferred from the surname; mostly of persons born before 1950.
  • proper noun A female given name taken into general use in the 1940s; usually interpreted as a spelling variant of Alison.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From a Middle English diminutive form of Alan, Alexander or Alice +‎ -son.

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Examples

  • ALLISON (ph) (Audience Member): I'm Allison from Raleigh, North Carolina, and I was wondering if y'all could condense "Grease."

    'Completely Hollywood': 197 Films, Abridged 2010

  • She moved that portrait aside, her gaze scanning a still life of roses, a slipper, a fan, and a filled dance card with the name Allison painted on it—a tender tribute to the first ball of the sister Tristan had adored.

    A GIFT OF LOVE Judith McNaught 1995

  • She moved that portrait aside, her gaze scanning a still life of roses, a slipper, a fan, and a filled dance card with the name Allison painted on it—a tender tribute to the first ball of the sister Tristan had adored.

    A GIFT OF LOVE Judith McNaught 1995

  • She frisbeed one of the envelopes at the pledges’ feet, and Ariana saw the name Allison staring up at her in silver script.

    Sweet Deceit Kate Brian 2010

  • She frisbeed one of the envelopes at the pledges’ feet, and Ariana saw the name Allison staring up at her in silver script.

    Sweet Deceit Kate Brian 2010

  • Georgia had seen Ally’s kindergarten report with the name Allison Hope Bishop-Harmon across the top.

    Moon Dance Mariah Stewart 1999

  • Georgia had seen Ally’s kindergarten report with the name Allison Hope Bishop-Harmon across the top.

    Moon Dance Mariah Stewart 1999

  • It's about what you'd expect, until the very last shot where we see that Allison is off to the coffee shop to read Atlas Shrugged.

    Tube Bits for 07/27/2009 (Comic Con Edition) 2009

  • Bloomberg reports that “Fannie Mae Chief Executive Officer Herb Allison is the leading candidate to run the Treasury office overseeing the $700 billion U.S. bank-rescue program”; Allison would replace Neel Kashkari.

    Wonk Room » The WonkLine: April 14, 2009 2009

  • Allison is understandably creeped out on "Medium" (CBS at 8) when she gets a skin graft on her hand, and the hand starts moving as if it has a mind of its own.

    TV HIGHLIGHTS Post 2010

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